Amityville, NY

An abundance of salt hay drew farmers to this area of Babylon in 1653. In 1846, one of the area’s most prominent residents, Samuel Ireland, proposed naming the village after his boat, Amity. The following year, the Southside Railroad began serving the village, followed by the Cross-Island trolley in 1909, giving rise to Amityville as a hub of business and transportation for Suffolk County.

Amityville’s claim to fame and the reason for its notoriety stems from the 1979 movie “The Amityville Horror” and the subsequent remake in 2005. The movie details the story of a murder in which a son killed six family members. The family who purchased the home two years later experienced a number of paranormal events, which they attributed to the horrific crime that took place on the property. Located on 112 Ocean Avenue, the home has seen several different owners since the incident occurred.

Many of the village's pubs, cafes and restaurants are located along Broadway in the northern part of the village and Merrick Road in the south. Chain restaurants aren’t common here, with residents opting instead for independent eateries that provide the ambiance that only a mom-and-pop establishment can. Brownstones Coffee on Merrick Road offers the villagers an upscale place to enjoy breakfast or lunch while sipping a cup of one of the cafe’s popular coffees or a flavorful tea blend. The Zagat-rated Vittorio’s Restaurant and Wine Bar serves American-Italian fusion foods, including homemade pappardelle, spicy mussels with chorizo and flavorful shortribs in an upscale atmosphere.

Locals tend to congregate at waterfront locations, such as Toomey’s Tavern and Giacomo Jacks on South Ketchum Avenue, with pig roasts at Giacomo’s and live music at Toomey’s being some of the summer’s more popular events for residents. The Revolution Bar & Music Hall on Merrick Road and the High Note NY on Broadway draw the night-time crowds for the younger set, while families mostly reserve their evening festivities for village-sponsored concerts and festivals.

The average Amityville commuter spends roughly 30 minutes on their morning drive, which is only slightly more than the national average. For those who work in the city, the commute time doubles. Driving into Manhattan via the Southern State Parkway can take a full hour or more at rush hour, so mass transit tends to be the most popular choice. Commuters can hop the Long Island Railroad to take the train into the city from the Babylon MTA LIRR train station located on John Street and relax on their hour-long ride into the city. The Suffolk County transit bus offers a viable option for getting around Amityville and neighboring towns, and commuters can use their MetroCard on the NICE bus to navigate to other parts of Long Island.

When the tourist numbers grow during the warm summer months, traffic grows along with it and parking gets tricky. While there aren’t many bike lanes on the Amityville streets, biking is still a popular means for getting around during the summer, and a few stores in town rent bicycles to tourists to get around the village. With the many fingertip inlets that sprout from the Great South Bay, boating is still a popular means of summer transportation for village residents.

For those who want lots of green spaces and places to relax outdoors, Amityville is the place to be. It offers several village-run parks, including Peterkin Park on Oak Street, which has a lake, walking paths and a playground, Edward W. Pearsall Park on Bayview Avenue and James A. Caples Memorial Park, a hub for many of the village’s land sports and water activities. The Village Triangle where Broadway and Park Avenue meet is the center of many of Amityville’s parades, fairs and concerts, and is home to the village gazebo and memorial clock tower. Four private yachts also play a large role in the residents’ summer fun.

Meander to the southern tip of James A. Caples Memorial Park to the Amityville Municipal Bathing Beach Park, a summer hot spot for tourists and residents. The park has a boat ramp for smaller watercraft and a pier that’s ideal for fishing or simply taking a stroll. The village rents out the beach’s gazebo to residents for private events, and it hosts many public events throughout the summer months. Many residents launch their boats from here and head over to Jones Beach, one of the barrier beaches across the bay, for a day spent sunbathing, swimming and picnicking.

Life in Amityville comes at a price. Its cost of living is roughly 30 percent higher than the U.S. average. Renters pay the price, with the median long-term rental for a one-bedroom apartment going for $1,700 and short-term summer rentals going for even more. While these prices are higher than the U.S. average, they still pale in comparison to some of the prices in New York City’s posh neighborhoods.

Getting around isn’t cheap either in Amityville. Expect a monthly railroad pass into the city to cost just under $300, with an additional monthly charge for parking in the train station’s lot. A gallon of gas will cost slighty more than the U.S. average but less than the average prices in other parts of Long Island, making car travel a good choice.

Merrick Road and Broadway serve as the village's retail centers, with everything from large chain pharmacies to small boutique shops dotting the landscape.

High Fidelity Records and CDs on Merrick Road refuses to let the age of technology dampen its spirits. Visit the Periwinkle Boutique for timeless and modern personalized jewelry pieces and service.

Since life in the village tends to revolve around the water, mom-and-pops, such as the Dinghy Shop on Bayview and Combs Bait and Tackle on Merrick Road, thrive during the warmer months. Three supermarkets — Stop & Shop, Best Market and C-Town Supermarket — serve most of the villagers' needs, but savvy shoppers know to head to the retail outlet at B&B Fish and Clam for fresh seafood. The Amityville Farmers' Market at the 9/11 Memorial Park runs from mid-June through late October, providing the freshest-possible produce.